"Hannibal," a deliciously gripping new crime thriller from NBC, delves into the early years of one of pop culture's most evil villains -- the serial killer who had an unfortunate habit of turning his victims into bedtime snacks.

But, surprisingly, the pre-"Silence of the Lambs" Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) of this saga doesn't show up until midway through Thursday's opener and has only a scant amount of screen time. It's as if writer Bryan Fuller is following the playbook Steven Spielberg famously deployed in "Jaws": Hold back your monster early on, the better to build bone-chilling suspense.

Meanwhile, the spotlight falls on Will Graham, a gifted crime profiler played with incredible gusto by Hugh Dancy. Graham has been enlisted by FBI agent Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) to help unlock the minds of serial killers, which is like setting a diabetic kid loose in a candy story.

Graham, you see, is plagued by a bundle of issues. He has a unique way of thinking that allows him to empathize with anyone, even psychopaths. So he pretty much feels what they feel. With his tormented mind crammed with freaky visions, he could snap at any moment.

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That's where Hannibal comes in. Blazingly brilliant and ultra-perceptive, he's one of the country's premier psychiatrists. Crawford recruits him to essentially serve as a sidekick to Graham and help crack tough cases. This sets up a compelling dynamic: Graham, the man who tracks sickos, unwittingly finds himself in the company of the biggest sicko around.

Basically, it's a match made in hell.

NBC has marketed "Hannibal" as a psychological thriller and it certainly is. But the series also has a cable TV, "Dexter"-like vibe, and as such, contains its fair share of blood and gore. Among the gruesome images depicted in Thursday's episode, is a young woman impaled on a set of deer antlers.

So "Hannibal" clearly is not for the squeamish. But viewers who can handle the "ick" factor will find a superbly crafted, tantalizingly creepy tale that defies the conventions of TV's follow-the-dots crime procedurals. It's blessed with sharp writing, plenty of visual verve and hypnotic performances.

As for the latter, it's Dancy's Graham who chews scenery like Hannibal feasts on his mysterious gourmet meals. The British actor does a terrific job of conveying the emotional turbulence roiling through his mind and body. It isn't pretty, but it's magnetic, and utterly convincing.

Ironically, the weakest link in this fine cast appears to be its title character. Mikkelsen brings the expected amount of frosty attitude and clipped responses to the role made famous by Anthony Hopkins. But missing is the dark humor and demented charm we've come to expect. I, in fact, found Mikkelsen to be rather dull -- something that could be problematic in future episodes as his role increases.

For now, though, "Hannibal" is a sturdy offering, one that keeps viewers guessing and tensions simmering. Most TV crime shows have a tendency to quickly fade from memory. This one just might haunt your dreams.

TV TURNOVER: Earlier this week, we bid a sad farewell -- for now -- to a couple of prime time's most compelling dramas as "The Walking Dead" and "Justified" wrapped up their standout seasons. On Thursday, the freshman season of "Elementary" (10:01 p.m., CBS) concludes, and on Monday, Season 3 of "Being Human" (9 p.m., Syfy) comes to an end.

This would be even more of a bummer if spring didn't usher in some fresh TV fare. To wit: "Game of Thrones" (9 p.m. Sundays, HBO) is off to a solid start, and this weekend brings on the Season 6 opener of "Mad Men" (9 p.m., AMC). The four-time Emmy winner for outstanding drama returns with a two-hour episode. We'll have our review in Friday's papers.

And if that's not enough, it looks like we may have to add "Orphan Black" (9 p.m. Saturdays, BBC America) to our list of quality, must-see shows.

"Orphan Black," a sci-fi thriller, took us by total surprise last weekend with an astonishing pilot episode starring Tatiana Maslany as a troubled young woman who is shocked to discover that she has at least a couple of clones.

That oversimplifies what looks to be a twisty, complex and totally addictive series with a standout performance by Maslany at the center of it all. This one cries out for a DVR season pass.

Looking ahead, "Veep," "Nurse Jackie" and "The Borgias" all return April 14, and "The Big C" is back on April 29 to kick off what will be its final episodes.

CBS ON A ROLL: Most networks wait until May to issue the bulk of their renewal notices. But last week, CBS, which continues to assert its claim as "America's most-watched network," ordered new seasons of 18 shows in one swoop -- a remarkable display of stability in this era of lower ratings and expectations.

Most of the renewals were expected. Shows like "NCIS" and "The Big Bang Theory," for example, are major hits.

However, one very welcome surprise was the renewal of "The Good Wife." The legal drama is a critical favorite, but does not garner big Nielsen numbers.

Two shows absent from the list were "CSI: NY" and "Vegas." They're not officially dead, but their prospects don't look good. "Vegas," a freshman series starring Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis, will finish out the season in a new time slot beginning this Friday (9 p.m., CBS), and unless it shows some signs of ratings life, it's probably a goner.